Thousands sign petition urging lawmakers to pass ‘real property insurance relief’

Judge gavel and house model property auction for real estate law concept. Lawyer hand holding gavel wooden knocking home ownership for buying selling or foreclosure on nature background.
A Senate bill to overhaul property insurance laws heads to the chamber floor Thursday.

Floridians for Lawsuit Reform said it has collected thousands of petition signatures from homeowners who are desperate for “real property insurance relief.”

The announcement comes on the eve of an expected Senate vote on legislation to overhaul the state’s property insurance system.

The bill (SB 76) would limit attorney multiplier fees, an uncertain cost for policy-writers to account for while setting rates. It also authorizes carriers to offer roofing policies that allow a depreciated payout instead of a full replacement cost for roofs more than 10 years old.

“Floridians are tired of paying through the nose for their homeowners insurance,” said David Santiago, a former state Representative who now leads Floridians for Lawsuit Reform. “That is why over 50,000 people are asking the Legislature and Gov. DeSantis one simple request: Help.

“For months, homeowners have been sending an SOS for relief from billions in higher rates to their elected officials. Attorneys and roofing fraudsters abusing the system are hurting hardworking families and seniors across the state, driving up rates, limiting coverage options, and even forcing 5,000 homeowners a week into Citizens Insurance.

“Floridians are speaking up for property insurance reforms that will rein in attorney fees and crack down on frivolous litigation and roofing scams. Floridians need relief from higher rates, and they need it now. I encourage all Floridians to visit www.FLTortReform.com to sign the petition and speak up for rate relief,” Santiago concluded.

The push for property insurance relief comes as renewal rates continue skyrocketing for many Floridians. Bradenton Republican Sen. Jim Boyd, the bill sponsor and an insurance agent by trade, said his own renewal rates on his policy leapt 40% this year.

Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, has also repeatedly warned that the property insurance industry is in “crisis,” with companies fleeing Florida because it’s getting more difficult to offer actuarially sound policies at prices consumers can afford.

“If we don’t act, we’re failing our constituents,” Brandes said at a recent committee hearing on SB 76. “We have to stand our ground here.”

There has been some pushback on the bills, mainly over provisions aimed at curbing litigation.

“This is a David versus Goliath situation, literally, and we’re taking David’s sling away,” Senate Democratic Leader Gary Farmer said.

But, Floridians for Lawsuit Reform notes Florida is the only state that has attorney fee multipliers. It also says the bill would place “common-sense and fair” limitations on claims, improve the adjudication process for both sides of a dispute, and address rising costs due to roofing scammers.

Drew Wilson

Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics. He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter. Wilson, a University of Florida alumnus, covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics.



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, William March, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Jesse Scheckner, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704